This monolith is an intriguing and strange sight

The Rock of Guatape0:49

Learn some interesting facts about the largely unknown Rock of Guatape.

March 15th 2016

2 years ago

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IT’S millions of years old, weighs in at an estimated 10 million tonnes, is more than 200m high and has a curious history. But it’s unlikely you would have ever heard of — let alone seen — this intriguing giant.

That’s because the Rock of Guatapé monolith (also known as El Peñol) is far removed from the typical “attractions” on offer at the well-trodden tourist trails of our favourite destinations such as Bali and Thailand.

Due to its far-flung location in Guatapé, Colombia, the fascinating rock is well-known amongst locals but has remained off the radar for most Australian travellers. And boy, have we been missing out.

Rediscovered by a group of mates back in the 1950s, who scaled it using just a wooden plank, the rock has been declared a national monument by the Colombian government.

Yep, there it is. Picture: Lauren Bath/Kathmandu

Its trademark feature is more modern addition; an astounding staircase that zigzags a staggering 649 steps up through a crack in the side of the otherwise fairly smooth rock. No matter where you are in the nearby towns, you just can’t miss it.

That’s a long way to climb. Picture: A TripAdvisor traveller

And there’s something a bit strange about the rock, which was worshipped by its former inhabitants.

Not visible at every angle, eagle-eyed visitors have been left baffled after spotting giant letters painted in white on the side of it, spelling out: “GI”. So what on Earth does that mean? It turns out that what appears to be an “I” is actually an incomplete “U”.

Wait, what’s that? Picture: Edgar Jimenez

What’s the significance of those letters? The monolith actually straddles two towns, Guatapé and El Peñol, and its ownership has long been disputed by locals. So to settle the matter, residents of Guatape decided to paint the town’s name on it, but it wasn’t long before residents of El Peñol noticed and a mob ceased the painting.

To this day, nobody has dared finish it.

The giant letters. Picture: A TripAdvisor traveller

On top of the rock is a viewing area with food available and souvenirs. The view is pretty awesome, and looks out to the Embalse del Peñol, a hydro-electric dam that submerged the original town of El Peñol in the 1970s.

Photographers Lauren Bath and Melissa Findley, who visited the rock this week as part of a trip with Kathmandu, said the experience was unforgettable: “Guatapé has to be the most vibrant, colourful town we have ever visited. The buildings are decorated in primary colours — it makes the perfect backdrop for photography and filming. We spent hours strolling through the streets of the picturesque town, cameras in hand.

“Each building had a pattern, design or mural that traditionally tells the story or heritage of the family or business that owned the building — we found this so unique and interesting.”